Legionem Custos

HistoryThough Atlantis is always viewed as a perfect city, there was still crime in the city. While the Visus Draconis watched for signs of sedition and traitors, and investigated foreign threats, and the Ungula Draconis was responsible enforcing the might of the Awakened Empire abroad, they rarely were involved in basic domestic crime. This was instead handled by a subset of the Ungula Draconis, the Legionem Custos, or the Legion of the Guard. Known more simply as Watchmen, these mages originally rose to deal with crime within the holdings of the empire. The Kings of Atlantis supposedly selected this Legacy to run parallel to the major orders, serving as a separate civilian force. Or so the Watchmen claim. They also state their original purpose was to only deal with crime committed within the Empire by Sleepers, until it became quite clear that sometimes these crimes could be traced back to Awakened manipulators. As such, with the blessing of the Kings, they expanded to a general policing force. While the Visus Draconis still dealt with grand threats and worked to fend off sedition, the Legionem Custos dealt with the day to day crimes that were not part of some vast conspiracy. These could range from crimes as little as a purse snatcher to hunting deranged killers. But with Awakened involve, even the smallest crimes were never simple. Thus, once their mandate was expanded to the Awakened community, the Legacy was also expanded. Thus, they no longer were the perfected guards against sleeper crime, but also able to disarm and place under arrest their fellow mages. This power was supposedly originally derived from the blessings of the Atlantean Kings, but though the Watchmen support this claim, they also claim that they never made an Oath of Allegiance to the Kings. Instead, they claim that the Original Oath, as they call it, was to serve the ideals of Justice and Mercy, while protecting and serving the innocent. They continued to hold to this oath through the Fall, many dying to aid in the civilian retreat from the sinking city, and then sheltering the refugee communities. Unfortunately, many were lost in those first years, and to this day, the Legion of Watchmen remains more of a Modern DayWhile the Guardians now act as a CIA or NSA organization, and the Arrows primarily act as the militant wing of the Pentacle orders, the Watchmen instead act as a member of a civilian police force. The Watchmen claim that their Legacy was originally shaped by one of the Atlantean Kings, and though many scoff at such a claim, there is no denying that the Legacy grants its members significant power. These powers, coupled by the refusal by the Watchmen to play politics, swear allegiance to any seat of power, or seemingly seek to use their powers for personal gain make most mages innately suspicious and fearful. The idea of anyone choosing to work as a simple servant of the Law strikes most mages as odd at best, and often leads to these mages being shunned by many consileums. However, those who understand the Watchmen Oath and true purpose know that that there is no one better to have on your side when hunting down a member of the Mad or a Seer thief.

Joining and The Original OathJoining is tough. Only mages that have shown themselves willing to serve higher ideas rather than their own power, who work to protect both the Awakened and Sleepers equally, have a chance. All mages are screened repeatedly and extensively, but there is no real apprenticeship period, though most candidates are given a ride along to see what will be expected of them. Ethics are a huge part of the exam, with the mages response being tested in real life scenarios. The Watchmen want civil servants and protectors, not soldiers or spies. An example of test may be giving a mage a timed objective, such as getting a package across town within an hour, while being monitored by members of the order. The mages will then encounter seemingly innocuous situations where a person is in need of help. Those who ignore these individuals outright usually do not find themselves gaining entry into the Legacy, though Admission requires approval from senior members of the Legionem Custos. However, any Order or Path can join, as the Watchmen technically are independent. However, only the Adamantine Order will allow members to The Watchmen swear the Oath and remain a member of their Order. As such, any mages adopted from outside the Adamantine Arrows into the Watchmen usually find themselves joining the Arrows shortly after rather than be apostate. The Oath itself has supposedly been passed down from the days of Atlantis, though it is taken in the recruits native tongue. In English, it reads:I, [True Name], do solemnly swear to defend the subjects of the Awakened Kingdom without fear or thought; to pursue evildoers and protect the innocent, laying down my life if necessary in the cause of said duty. I swear to uphold the Supernal Truths of Mercy and Justice. I will serve what is right, and not the whims of a king or throne. My duty is to be a shelter to the people and a hunter of all evil that threatens them. I shall not seek power for myself, but wisdom and knowledge to better guard those under my protection. For I am the Law given flesh, and no injustice shall go unnoticed.Many mages wonder who the subjects are of the Awakened Kingdom. This actually led to a small schism for a time, occurring just after the fall. Some Watchmen viewed their oath as beholding them to no one, as the Awakened Kingdom was no more. Others argued it only applied to the direct heirs of Atlantis. However, a vast majority made the following argument, which is now accepted as the proper interpretation in the modern world:1. The Oracles were the last true Atlantean Kings2. They still live in the Supernal Realms, as evidenced by the creation of the Watchtowers3. Thus the Awakened Kingdom still exists4. As all mages Awaken to these towers through the Kings, all Awakened are citizens of the Awakened Kingdom till they act against it or revoke this citizenship (the Scelesti, Mad, or Seers)5. Since any Sleeper or Sleepwalker may Awaken, they are all nascent citizens and as such care should be taken to protect them and shield them as wellThus, nearly every Watchman will work to protect all members, Sleeper or Awakened, of the community that he has taken under his watch.Furthermore, this oath holds the watchmen to uphold Justice and Mercy in their truest forms. Though this may seem to put them in a quandary, it actually gives them significant freedom in how they choose to pursue and handle a crime. For example, these mages dont often concern themselves with hunting down and punishing a thief who steals so that he and his family may eat. Instead, they may work to get back what they stole to its rightful owner while finding a way for the thief to legally keep his family fed, such as helping him get a job. They are usually much less forgiving of crimes committed by Awakened though, as they expect these individuals to know better. Note, though they have lee way in their decisions, they still must use these principles to guide their decisions, and they cannot be contradictory of the core of the principal. Letting a Seer live who has been disarmed and has surrendered would be in line with both Ideals, but choosing not to pursue a possible Scelesti who is suspected of a ritual killing because they are an old friend is not, and would be considered a broken oath.The oath also precludes the Watchman from seeking any power. Though power can be thrust upon them (one Watchman was charged with leading a Consileums Sentinels against their rogue Hierarch), they never can seek it out on their own. Any advice they offer in an official capacity cannot be self serving, usually precluding them from politics. They also are not to pursue their studies for any purpose other than to better protect and serve their communities. Any blatant abuse would constitute a breaking of their oath, though somehow the Oath seems to recognize that the Watchmen are human, and thus does not break when minor foibles occur (such as one Watchman who accepts a fresh pie from his Consileum every major holiday). Breaking the OathBreaking the Original Oath has some dire consequences, as it is part of the actual soul forging that allows the mage to become a part of the Legacy. It is quite literally written onto their soul, becoming intrinsically intertwined with the souls very essence. As such, breaking the Oath means the Watchman is rejecting their soul. The effects are the same as if the Watchmans soul was stolen, and they suffer the effects of soul loss until they make amends with their broken oath, or die. The only other option is to surrender their soul and have another take its place, thus freeing them of the Legacy. As this itself comes with its own complications, few pursue this option. Note that the oath must be broken under the Watchmens own free will, with full understanding of what is in front of them. Thus, using magic to force a mage to break the letter of their oath would not result in this soul loss, nor would using magic to trick the Watchmen into harming those he protects result in him severing his oath. Views of the OrdersAll orders except the Adamantine Arrow revoke membership if one joins the Legionem Custos. Why usually varies, but most at least have the decency to lie and claim it is so as their old loyalties dont distract or impede the Watchmens new duty. The Silver Ladder:The Silver Ladder views these individuals as Stags, thinking them as giving up power and caving to others rather than using their powers to better themselves and stand near the top. This doesnt stop young and idealistic mages, especially those who have grown disillusioned with the hierarchy of the Ladder to seek out a different form of service. The ladder does recognize the power that the order has though, and thus will try and manipulate it to its own advantage. However, this can often lead investigations to their own doors, which has definitely given some members pause in pursuing such manipulations. The MysteriumThe Mysterium doesnt dislike the Legionem Custos. Their only issue is that its members are forbidden from seeking out secrets for secrets sake. Though Watchmen can seek out areas of interest and magic in an off-duty manner, they are expected not to dedicate themselves to such a task. As this is the purpose of the Mysterium, its members who join this legacy can no longer serve their former Order properly. The Mysterium will aid this legacy though, as they recognize its members are not likely to abuse the knowledge given to them.The Free CouncilThe Free Council has many reasons why it will disown its members. Some view this legacy as delusional due to its claims of Atlantean descent. Others view them as Pigs and the Po-po. Still others tell stories of these mages hunting down members of the order when they were still The Nameless. The last is partly true, but these hunts were usually of mages belonging to unsavory Left Handed paths that were harming those Watchmens communities. Thus, many of the Free Council view those who join the Watchmen as selling out. Coupled with the Watchmens Oath both binding the members of the Legacy to a specific path and hierarchy, it also promotes the view of the Diamond Orders. Never the less, it is rare to hear any of the Free Council complain when a Watchmen takes out a Mad created by one of their more enlightened experiments. Seers and ScelestiBoth groups hate the Watchmen. The Watchmens Oath prohibits them from serving any throne or king prevents service to either the Exarchs or Abyss. These groups despise the watchers as dogged investigators into their own affairs.